Millet and Sudangrass - Key Growing Information
Culture: All three are warm-season crops: plant only after frost danger has passed and the soil has warmed to 65–85°F (18–29°C). Sow ½–1" deep with a push seeder or grain drill; if broadcasting, raise the rate and harrow lightly or firm with a cultipacker for good germination. Plants can reach 8' tall, but regular mowing keeps them in check; leave 4–6" of stubble each time so they regrow. Pearl millet: thrives where drought, poor soil and high heat are common, and can grow where crops like corn or wheat would fail. Japanese millet: the opposite of pearl millet, it does well in low, heavy, wet or clay ground, even poorly drained soil or standing water. It can be broadcast or planted in narrow rows, which makes it flexible for wet fields where many upland crops struggle. Sudangrass: as it breaks down, it releases compounds that suppress nematodes and symphylans. Because it can also inhibit small-seeded crops or tie up nitrogen, allow plenty of time for it to decompose; letting it winterkill before a spring planting is the easiest way.
Seeding Rate: Millet: ½–1 lb. per 1,000 sq. ft.; 12–25 lb. per acre. Sudangrass: 1–2 lb. per 1,000 sq. ft.; 30–40 lb. per acre.
Light/Soil Requirements: Pearl millet: full sun and good drainage; tolerates salty or acidic soil but grows best near pH 6.0. Japanese millet: full sun; handles wet or even waterlogged, acidic, low-fertility soil but grows best near pH 6.0. Sudangrass: full sun; best with good fertility but grows on poorer soil too. Adequate nitrogen maximizes biomass. Drought tolerant.
Height: 8'+
Harvest: Expect three to five cuttings a season. Mow before working it into the soil. About 75–80 days to hay stage and 105 days to seed. Caution: Never cut sudangrass for forage after a frost: prussic acid can build to levels that are toxic to livestock.
Termination: These crops grow so fast and so big that the right equipment matters. Tractor-mounted flail, sickle-bar and rotary mowers handle them, but smaller machines may not. Both millet and sudangrass die with the first frost, which gives growers without heavy equipment another way to manage them.
